Residential fire hazard alleviation system



July 9, 1968 E. E. FORDYCE 3,392,380

RESIDENTIAL FIRE HAZARD ALLEVIATION SYSTEM Filed Aug. 9, 1965 38INVENTOR.

EARL E. FORDYCE 37 BY 8 F'G- 4 ATTORNEY United States Patent O M3,392,380 RESIDENTIAL FIRE HAZARD ALLEVIATION SYSTEM Earl E. Fordyce,779 W. 49th St., Norfolk, Va. 23508 Filed Aug. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 478,350

-Claims. (Cl. 340-220) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A fire hazardalleviation system including a closure device mounted to swing about avertical hinge line in yaiu emergency escape opening formed through aresidential building wall. An electrically operable latch device nor-This invention relates generally to a system for the alleviation ofresidential tire hazards, and more particularly to a system for warninghouseholders of the outbreak of fire within the premises whileautomatically and simultaneously opening up an emergency exit lroutetherefrom.

While it -has been standard practice for many years, generally as amatter of compliance with state and local law, to provide tire alarmsystems and tire escape devices for large public and commercialbuildings, such as multist oned hotels and oce buildings or the like,private residential structures are rarely so equipped. This state ofaifairs is considered attributable, not only to the iabsence in almostall of the local :building codes of any requirement that such equipmentbe provided, but to the nonavailability of simple and inexpensivesystems of this type readily adapted for installation in residentialstructures. Yet, each yea-r, thousands of res break out during the hoursof darkness within private dwellings while the occupants thereof lieasleep. y

Upon the nocturnal outbreak of re within a lresidential structure, thesleeping occupants thereof are often fatally asphyxiated as the resultof the inhalation of smoke and fumes, or, lying unconscious as la resultthereof, are burned to death. On the other hand, particularly inthe caseof the newer residences provided withcentral air conditioning plants andequippedA with windows which cannot be opened, a sleeping occupant mayawaken to find tire blocking all exits therefrom. Consequently, it willbe seen thiat a great many persons, including entire vfarnilies,needlessly lose their lives each year in noctumally occurringresidential fires.

Accordingly, an object of the present inventionis the provision of asimple and reliable system for warning householders ofthe outbreak ofre.

Another `object ofthe instant invention is the provision of aninexpensive and reliablelsystem for warning sleeping householders of thenocturnal occurrence'of the ftire withinthe premises whilesimultaneously opening up Ian emergency exit route therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is the provision' of a simpleand inexpensive electrical activated system for producing any audiblesignal to warn sleeping householders of the nocturnal outbreak of lirewithin the premises while simultaneously and automatically opening up anemergency escape route therefrom.

3,392,380 Patented July 9, 1968 yCC According to the instant invention,the foregoing and other objects are obtained by providing,l in aresidential building structure, at least one emergency escape openingformed through one of the walls thereof, and a closure device positionedin the wall opening and effectively hinged along an edge thereof to thewall. Also provided are spring means effectively coupled between thewall an-d the closure device for forcibly swinging the closure deviceupon its hinges out of the wall opening, as well an electricallyoperable latch device which, when not electrically energized, isutilized to override the action of the spring means and maintain theclosure device within the wall opening. The present invention furtherincludes a suitable electrical energy source and a thermostatic controlboth connected in series with the electrically operable latch device;the thermostatic control operably completing the circuit only when thetemperature in the vicinity thereof rises above a preselected level. Thein- -stant invention also includes an electrically operable audiblesignal alarm device connected in series with both the electrical energysource and the thermostatic control, and yet connected in parallel withthe electrically operable latch device.

A more complete 'appreciation of the invention and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily apparent as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing where- 1n:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the interior surface of abuilding structure wall carrying the fire alarm signal and emergencyescape system of the present invention;

FIG. 2. is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partially in section, of aportion of the building stnucture wall and a portion of the closuredevice positioned in the emergency escape opening formed in the Wall,taken valong the line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; l

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partially in section, ofanother portion of the building structure wall and another portion ofthe closure .device positioned in the emergency escape opening formed inthe wall, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4; and,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the interior of thethermostatic control utilized in the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like referencenumerals designate the same or identical parts throughout the severalviews, and more specically to FIG. l, there is shown the interiorsurface of a residential building structure wall 11. An emergency escapeopening formed through wall 11 is framed by a pair` of verticallyextending side jamb members 12 and 13, as well as by horizontallyextending head jamb member 14 and horizontally extending sill `member15. Positioned within the framed opening through wall 11 is Ia closuredevice, generally designated by the reference numeral 16, which, asillustrated in the drawing, may take the formt of a conventional window.Closure device 16, as shown,

includes a vertioallyextending stile member 17 disposed ber 19 `disposedadjacent head jamb 14, a bottom rail then take the form of aconventionahdoor; theYV generic..- Y

countersunk holes formed through section 25, a planar section 26extending perpendicularlylfrom one vertical edge of planar section 25and outwardly from side jamb 12, and la tapered planar section 27extending perpendicularly from the vertical edge of planar section 26remote from side jamb 12 and parallel to side jamb 12 in the oppositedirection from planar section 25; the free vertical Vedge of taperedplanar section 27 being provided with one component of a hinge line 28.A hinge 24 further includes another element having a planar section 29attached to stile 17 by flathead wood screws passing through countersunkholes formed through section 29; the planar section 29 being providedalong the vertical edge thereof nearest side jamb 12 with othercomponents of hinge line 28. The elements of a hinge 24 areinterconnectd by passing a pin vertically through all of the componentsof hinge line` 28.

A block 31 is secured to side jamb 12 and sill 15 along the indoor edgeof the intersection thereof; the height of block 31 being less than thevertical distance between sill and the lower extremity of the lowermosthinge 24, the width of block 31 being substantially equal to thedistance between side jamb 12 and hinge line 28 of a hinge 24, and thedepth of block 31 being less than the distance between planar section 26of a hinge 24 and the indoor edges of side jamb 12 and sill 15. It willbe noted that the idth of block 31 has been somewhat exaggerated in FIG.2 of the drawing for the purposes of illustration. The block 31 isutilized in mounting a spring, generally designated by the referencenumeral 32, which tends to urge the closure device 16 out of the framedopening through wall 11. Spring 32 includes a coiled section 33 having alinear section 34 extending from each end thereof; the free end of eachlinear section 34 being formed into a substantially hooped section 35,through each of which the shank of a conventional headed fastener may bepassed. In the absence of the application of external forces thereto,the linear sections 34 of spring 32 are substantially in alignmentalthough extending in opposite directions from the ends of the coiledsection 33 thereof.

The mounting of spring 32 in its operating position is accomplished byswinging closure device 16 upon hinges 24 outwardly to a position ofperpendicularity with wall 11; connecting the free end of one of thelinear sections 34 of spring 32 to that surface of block 31 lyingparallel to the surface of side jam 12 by means of a conventional headedfastener, such as a nail or a wood screw, having its shank extendingthrough the hooped section 35 formed thereon into block 31; and thenconnecting the free end of the other of the linear sections 34 of spring32 to the indoor surface of the bottom rail 21 of closure device 16 bymeans of a conventional headed fastener having its shank extendingthrough the hooped section 35 formed thereon into bottom rail 21. In soconnecting spring 32 to block 31 and bottom rail 21, the coiled section33 of spring 32 should be positioned substantially to the indoor side ofhinge line 28 of the hinges 24, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of thedrawing, in order to allow closure device 16 to be swung upon hinges 24to its closed position. Movement of closure device 16 to its closedposition, as shown in the drawing, tightens the coiled section 33 ofspring 32, storing energy therein sufficient to cause closure device 16to swing upon hinges 24 back to its open position in the to jamb 12 byflathead wood screws passingth'rough 4 absence of means for restrainingclosuredevice ,16, against such movement.

The specific configuration of the hinges 24 and the spring 32hereinbefore set forth, together with the use of the block 31, isconsidered to be particularly advantageous in that swinging movement ofthe closure device 16 causes no undesirable distortion of spring 32.Obviously, however, hinge and spring configurations other than thosedisclosed herein may beutilized in lieu thereof, as deemed desirable. I

Closure device 16 is maintained in its closed position by anelectrically operable latchdevice, generally designated by the referencenumeral 36. Latch device 36 includes a conventional solenoid 37 providedwith mounting brackets 38 used in connecting the solenoid to the innersurface of wall 11, as shown in FIGS. l and 4. Solenoid 37 is alsoprovided with a substantially cylindrical plunger 39 composed of amagnetizable metal, such as soft iron or the like, as well as withspring means 41 arranged to normally maintain plunger 39 withdrawn fromthe exciting coil of solenoid 37, which is connected by conductors 42 toan electrical energy source, as more fully set forth hereinafter.Solenoid 37 is so mounted rigidly on the inner surface of wall 11 that,when the solenoid is not electrically energized, the free end of theplunger 39 thereof extends horizontally past the side jamb 13 into theopening in the wall 11 closed by closure device 16, as clearlyillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawing.

Electrically operable latch device 36 further includes an L-shapedelement having a planar section 43 abutting the indoor surface of stile18 and rigidly connected thereto, and another planar section 44extending perpendicularly from planar section 43 parallel to the surfaceof side jamb 13 when closure device 16 is in its closed position butspaced from side jamb 13 a distance suicient to clear the same whenclosure device 16 is swung from its open to its closed position. Planarsection 44 of the L-shaped element extends beyond the indoor edge ofside jamb 13 and intercepts the central axis of plunger 39 of solenoid37; planar section 44 being provided at this point of intersection witha hole 45 formed therethrough slightly larger in diameter than thediameter of plunger 39 and through which plunger 39 normally extendswhen solenoid 37 isnot electrically energized.

When closure device 16 is forcibly swung upon the hinges 24 against theaction of spring 32 to its closed position, it becomes necessary to movethe plunger 39 into the exciting coil of solenoid 37 in order to preventthe free end of the planar section 44 of the L-shaped element fromcontacting the side wall of plunger 39 at a point spaced from its freeend. Plunger 39 may be moved into the exciting coil of solenoid 37against Ithe action of spring 41 by hand. When closure device 16 isdisposed completely in its closed position, plunger 3 9 may be released,and the free end of plunger 39 will then be moved by the action ofspring 41 into the hole 45 of planar section 44 of the L-shaped element,thus securely latching closure device 16 in its closed position.

-The hereinbefore mentioned conductors 42 connecting the exciting coilof the solenoid 37 to an electrical energy source constitute a portionof a wiring circuit into which are also connected other salientcomponents of the combination forming the subject matter of the presentinvention. Referring again now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, it will be seenthat the wiring circuit includes conductors 46 connected between asource of electrical energy 47, preferably the conventional 11G-voltalternating current circuit commonly installed. in residential buildingstructures, and a conventional transformer 48 where the EMF is steppeddown to 10 volts. Obviously, if desired, electrical storage batteriesmay constitute the electrical energy source in lieu of the householdcircuit, and the transformer 48 may then be dispensed with. The wiringcircuit further includes conductors 49 connected between transformer 48and a thermostatic control, generally designated by the referencenumeral 51.

Referring now to FIG. 6 as well as FIG. 1 of the drawing, it will beseen that the thermostatic control 51 includes a control box having adat bottom wall 52 abutting the inner surface of residential buildingstructure wall 11 and rigidly affixed thereto, a side wall 53 extendingaround the periphery of bottom wall 52, and a removable cover 54utilized in closing the control box so defined. The cover 54 is providedwith one or more slots 55 cut therethrough for assuring that the airtemperature interiorly and exteriorly of the control box remainssubstantially equal. A block of electrical insulating material 56 ismounted within the control box, and is utilized in securing one end ofan arcuate bimetallic element 57; the metallic strip thereof having thehigher coefficient of thermal expansion lying along the inner surface ofthe arc. A metallic electrical terminal 58 is also mounted within thecontrol box and suitably electrically insulated therefrom at a pointthat, when the air temperature within the residential building structureand within the control box is in the normal range of room temperatures,is spaced relatively near the outer surface of the outer metallic stripof element 57 and near the free end thereof. An end of one of theconductors 49 connected between transformer 48 and thermostatic control51 is attached to arcuate element 57 and the corresponding end of theother of the conductors 49y is attached to electrical terminal 58. Inthe event that the temperature within the residential building structurebegins to rise, the arcuate element 57 will begin to expand outwardly,and the outer surface of the outer metallic strip thereof will movenearer the electrical terminal 58. The precise preselected position ofelectrical terminal 58 is such that, as the temperature of the airwithin the control box reaches a predetermined level, `say 150 F., the-arcuate element 57 contacts the electrical terminal 58, effectivelyelectrically connecting the ends of the two conductors 49 connected withthermostatic lcontrol 51.

One of the conductors 49 connected between transformer 48 andthermostatic control 51, rather than being continuously unbroken alongits entire length, is severed at a desired point, and the ends of theconductors 42 remote from solenoid 37 are disposed adjacent the point ofseverence of the severed conductor 49. Each severed end of thisconductor 49 is connected to the adjacent end of one of the conductors42; in effect connecting solenoid 37 into the wiring circuit in serieswith electrical energy source 47 and thermostatic control 51. Further,an end of a conductor 59 is connected to each one of the conductors 42at a desired point intermediate the ends thereof, and the other end ofeach of the conductors 59 is connected to a conventional electricallyoperable bell device 61 capable of producing a. clearly audible signal;the bell device 61 thereby being also effectively connected into thewiring circuit in series with electrical energy source 47 andthermostatic control 51. The solenoid 37 and the bell device 61, whenconnected into the wiring circuit as hereinbefore set forth, are eachconnected in parallel with the other.

Obviously, the arrangement of the conductors within the wiring circuitmay be modified, if desired, without altering the function thereof. Onesuch modification, by way of example, might involve the connection ofonly one conductor 49 between transformer 48 and thermostatic control51, and then the connection of the end of one of the conductors 42remote from solenoid 37 directly with transformer 48 and the connectionof the end of the other conductor 42 remote from solenoid 37 directlywith thermostatic control 51. Likewise, bell device 61 may be connectedinto the wiring circuit in series with electrical energy source 47 andin parallel with solenoid 37 at other desired points.

It will further be noted that the electrically operable latch device 36may be rearranged, if desired, by mounting solenoid 37 upon stile 18 ofclosure device 16 with the plunger 39 extending toward side jamb 13. Insuch case, a hole bored into side jamb 13 into which plunger 39 mayextend when fully withdrawn from solenoid 37, cooperating therewith toprevent relative movement between closure device 16 and side jamb 13,might be used in lieu of the L-shaped element of latch device 3,6, orthe L-shaped element of latch device 36, suitably modified, might bemounted upon side jamb 13 for similar cooperation with plunger 39. Ifthe solenoid is so mounted upon the stile 18 of closure device 16, theconductors 42`interconnected therewith could then be led along one ofthe intermediate rails 23 to leave closure device 16 at the edge thereofadjacent hinges 24.

In the event that fire breaks out within a residential buildingstructure in which the system forming the subject matter of the instantinvention is installed, the temperature of the air therewithin andwithin the control box will begin to rise. When the air temperaturereaches the preselected critical level, the arcuate element 57 ofthermostatic control 51 contacts the electrical terminal 58 thereof,completing the wiring circuit and simultaneously electrically energizingbell device 61 and the exciting coil of solenoid 37. As the audiblesignal produced by bell device 61 warns the occupants of the residentialbuilding structure of their danger, the current flowing through theexciting coil of the solenoid 37 sets up a magnetic field which drawsplunger 39 into the solenoid coil, and the free end of plunger 39emerges from the hole 45 formed in the planar section 44 of the L-shapedelement carried by the closure device 16. Closure device 16, under theinfluence of spring 32, then swings outwardly to substantially aposition of perpendicularity with respect to wall 11, thereby opening upan emergency exit route through wall 11 affording the occupants of theresidential building structure an avenue of escape therefrom.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore tobe understood that within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

l. A re hazard alleviation system adapted to be installed in aresidential building structure having an eX- terior wall provided with abuilding structure occupant traversable opening and carrying a closuredevice normally maintainable by resilient means in substantially aposition of perpendicularity with respect to said wall yet swingableabout a hinge line to a position for closing said wall opening, saidfire hazard alleviation system cornprrsrng:

an electrical energy source;

an electrically operable signal device adapted to produce an audiblesignal when electrically energized; an electrically operable latchdevice adapted to releasably interconnect said closure device and saidwall for overriding the action of said resilient means and maintainingsaid closure device in said position for closing said wall opening, saidlatch device including a member moveable in response to theestablishment of an electromagnetic field from a first position to asecond position, said moveable member when in said first position beingdisposable to extend between and interengage said closure device andsaid wall, and means for establishing an electromagnetic field to movesaid moveable member from said first position to said second position;normally open circuit means connecting said electrically operable signaldevice and said means for establishing an electromagnetic field of saidlatch device in series to said electrical energy source; and

thermostatic control means connected into said normally open circuitmeans responsive to a rise in the temperature of the air therearound toa critical level for closing said normally open circuit means, therebyelectrically energizing said electrically operable signal device andsaid electrically operable latch device.

2. The lire hazard alleviation system according to claim 1 wherein saidnormally open circuit means includes electrical conductors connectingsaid electrically operable latch device and said thermostatic controlmeans in series with said electrical energy source, and connecting saidelectrically operable signal device and said thermostatic control meansin series with said electrical energy source.

3. The fire hazard alleviation system according to claim 1 wherein saidthermostatic control means includes an arcuate 'bimetallic element incontact with a metallic electrical terminal when the temperature of theair therearound attains said critical level.

4. The lire hazard alleviation system according to claim 1 wherein saidmeans for establishing an electromagnetic eld of said electricallyoperable latch device comprises the electrically energizible excitingcoil of a solenoid, and said moveable member of said electricallyoperable latch device comprises a magnetizible metallic solenoid plungermoveable within said exciting coil.

5. The fire hazard alleviation system according to claim 4 includingspring means for normally maintaining said solenoid plunger withdrawnfrom said solenoid exciting coil.

6. For use in a residential building structure having an exterior wallprovided with a framed opening traversable by building structureoccupants, a lire hazard alleviation system comprising:

a closure device adapted to be connected by hinges to said framed wallopening for swinging movement between substantially a position ofperpendicularity with respect to said wall and a position for closingsaid framed wall opening;

resilient means connected to said closure device and adapted to ybefurther connected with said wall for normally maintaining said closuredevice in said position of perpendicularity with respect to said wall;

an electrical energy source;

an electrically operable latch device adapted to release- -ablyinterconnect said closure device and said wall for normally overridingthe action of said resilient means and maintaining said closure devicein said position for closing said framed Wall opening, said electricallyoperable latch device including a solenoid having an electricallyenergizable exciting coil and a magnetizable metallic plunger adapted tomove in and out of said exciting coil, said solenoid being positionablewith said plunger, when withdrawn from said exciting coil, extendingbetween and interengaging sa'id closure device and said Wall; normallyopen circuit means electrically interconnecting said exciting coil ofsaid solenoid and said electrical energy source in series; anelectrically operable audible signal producing device electricallyconnected into said normally open circuit means in series with saidelectrical energy source; and thermostatic control means connected intosaid normally open circuit means responsive to a rise in theternperature of the air therearound to a predetermined critical levelfor closing said normally open circuit means thereby electricallyenergizing the exciting coil of said solenoid to draw said plunger.thereinto and electrically energizing said audible signal producingdevice. 7. The fire hazard alleviation system according to claim 6wherein said electrically operable latch device includes spring meansfor normally maintaining said solenoid plunger withdrawn from saidsolenoid exciting coil.

8. The fire hazard alleviation system according to claim 6 wherein saidthermostatic control means includes an .arcuate bimetallic element incontact with a metallic electrical terminal when the temperature of theair therearound attains said critical level.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,142,245 7/ 1964 Shoham 340-23OX 282,822 -8/ 1883 Willard.

918,163 4/1909 Kemp 236-49 1,380,207 5/1921 Hogstrom 98-86 X 3,329,3417/1967 Jones 340-222 X FOREIGN PATENTS 819,821 9/1959 Great Britain.

JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner.

D. L. TRAFTON, Assistant Examiner.

